Jelgava Gymnasium or Academia Petrina is the oldest higher educational establishment in Latvia.[1] It was established in Jelgava, capital of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, by Duke Peter von Biron in 1775. After the partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Jelgava became part of the Russian Empire and the gymnasium unsuccessfully petitioned to become a university.[2] Nevertheless, it became an important cultural hub not only for Latvians, but also Lithuanians.[3] During World War I, the school was evacuated to Taganrog in Rostov Oblast while its 42,000-volume library was burned by troops of Pavel Bermondt-Avalov.[4] During World War II, the historical school building was almost completely destroyed, therefore it was reestablished in new premises. It now functions as a regular high school (Latvian: Jelgavas 1. ģimnāzija).
The students at the gymnasium included Latvian Presidents Jānis Čakste and Alberts Kviesis, Lithuanian President Antanas Smetona, Polish President Stanisław Wojciechowski, Lithuanian Prime Ministers Ernestas Galvanauskas and Mykolas Sleževičius, Latvian folklorist Krišjānis Barons, Latvian philologist Kārlis Mīlenbahs, Latvian poet Aspazija and Lithuanian writer Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė.